Locks

ABSTRACT

A lock having an outer tubular casing within which an inner housing or sleeve is axially and rotatably movable, the sleeve containing a lock mechanism provided with a latch projecting laterally through an opening in the wall of the sleeve. The sleeve is spring-biased in a manner to enable it to be partially projected or advanced out of the casing while the latch is in a retracted position. When the latch is extended it engages against a shoulder provided on the wall of the casing and this holds the sleeve retracted within the casing. The casing is closed at its rear end by a cup which can be connected to bolt-actuating means or to other closure controlling means. The sleeve has a projection for coupling it to the cup only when the sleeve is disposed partially out of the casing. When the sleeve is retracted or is wholly located within the casing and is held in that position by the engagement of the extended latch against the shoulder, the coupling projection will be detached from the cup whereby the sleeve can then be freely rotated without causing rotation of the cup. Locking means is provided for holding the cup against rotation while the sleeve is retracted into the casing.

United States Patent Wellekens 1 May 2,1972

[54] LOCKS [72] Inventor: John F. Wellekens, 51 East 42nd St., New

York, NY. 10017 [22] Filed: Apr. 30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 33,228

52 us. C1. ..70/360,70/208,70/223,

70/362, 70/379 R, 70/386 511 rm. C1 ..E05b 17/04 [58] FleldolSearch ..70/208,221,222,223,360,

[56] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Kerr ..70/135 Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney-Harry Radzinsky ABSTRACT A lock having an outer tubular casing within which an inner housing or sleeve is axially and rotatably movable, the sleeve containing a lock mechanism provided with a latch projecting laterally through an opening in the wall of the sleeve. The sleeve is spring-biased in a manner to enable it to be partially projected or advanced out of the casing while the latch is in a retracted position. When the latch is extended it engages against a shoulder provided on the wall of the casing and this holds the sleeve retracted within the casing. The casing is closed at its rear end by a cup which can be connected to boltactuating means or to other closure controlling means. The sleeve has a projection for coupling it to the cup only when the sleeve is disposed partially out of the casing. When the sleeve is retracted or is wholly located within the casing and is held in that position by the engagement of the extended latch against the shoulder, the coupling projection will be detached from the cup whereby the sleeve can then be freely rotated without causing rotation of the cup. Locking means is provided for holding the cup against rotation while the sleeve is retracted into the casing.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAY 2 I972 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR. John F. Wellekens PATENTEDMY 2 I972 3, 659 444 SHEET 2 OF 2 mm-mm-urAl-HM .m.-.. mm;

INVENTOR.

John Fwellekens LOCKS It is an object of this invention to provide a lock of relatively simple construction having numerous advantages apparent to those skilled in this art.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a lock which cannot be readily picked or broken into and which has a construction that prevents it from being readily wrenched or pried apart.

The invention relates to a type of lock that is particularly adapted for use on doors of vending machines; on doors of appliance cabinets, on automobile doors, hoods or other parts and in many other environments wherein a lock of sturdy, lasting construction is desirable.

The invention contemplates the provision of a lock in which the combination can be readily changed to thereby adapt the lock to differently-contoured keys, and which look can be readily assembled or dis-assembled for repair or service.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a lock having concentric housings, the inner housing containing latch mechanism operative to position the inner housing in either an advanced or retracted position relatively to the outer housing, said inner housing when advanced, becoming coupled to a bolt-actuating element carried at the rear of the outer housing so that rotation of the inner housing will actuate the bolt-actuating element. When the inner housing is advanced to partially extend out of the outer housing, the inner housing becomes coupled to the bolt-actuating element and will rotate said element when the inner housing is rotated.

In the accompanying drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a lock constructed according to the invention and shown in its locked position;

FIG. 2 is a similar sectional view in a slightly smaller scale, showing the lock in its open position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the cup or end closure for the outer casing of the lock;

FIG. 4 shows a type of key which can be used for the lock;

FIG. 5 is a view of the closure plate for the sleeve of the lock;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view through the lock casing, the view being taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 1, but with the parts associated with the casing being omitted, and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the closure cup.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the outer shell or casing of the lock. In the form shown the casing is of the tubular shape disclosed in the drawings, and is provided with external threads 2 for its length or for such required portion of it for fixedly attaching the casing to a door or other element on which the lock is to be used. The casing l is provided at its forward end with a bezel or face plate 3.

Located within the casing 1 and arranged for axial sliding as well as rotative movement therein, is a sleeve or tubular inner housing 4 which contains locking mechanism 5 within it. Said locking mechanism includes a retractible latch 6 which when fully extended as shown in FIG. 1 by operating the locking mechanism through a suitable key, engages behind an annular shoulder 7 provided on the casing l in the interior of the casing. A coil spring 8 surrounds the sleeve 4, said spring being located within the casing l and it has one end rasting against a ledge 9 on the interior of the casing and has its opposite end resting under a shoulder 10 provided on the enlarged head portion 11 of the sleeve 4. The sleeve 4 is thus biased by the spring 8 and when the latch 6 of the lock mechanism is retracted sufficiently to clear the shoulder 7, the spring 8 will urge the sleeve 4 and its associated elements to be described, out of the casing 1 to the extended position shown in FIG. 2.

The extent of projection of the sleeve 4 and its associated parts relatively to the casing 1 is determined by the latch 6 coming into contact with an annular shoulder 12 on the inside of the casing 1 as shown in FIG. 2, said shoulder constituting a secondary stop means that is formed on the inside of the casing 1.

The forward end of the sleeve 4 is closed by a rotatable plug 13 which is provided with a key hole or slot of conventional kind, permitting the passage of a suitable key, such as shown for example in FIG. 4 to enter and operate the lock mechanism 5 and thus advance or retract the latch 6 as required.

The lock mechanism 5 may be, although not necessarily, like that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,260,080 dated July 12, 1966 to John F. Wellekens and also shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,143,875; 3,382,688 and 3,464,241.

Such particular type of locking mechanism is one in which the combination can be speedily and easily changed whenever it is desired to enable the lock to be operated by any one of a number of difi'erently-contoured keys. In a lock of this kind a plurality of wafer-like disk-shaped elements are used, such elements being provided in this peripheral edge with a plurality of notches. The alignment of selected ones of the notches in the several elements results in the stting of a certain combination for the acceptance of a specific key. Thus, all that the locking mechanism requires for the setting of a desired combination, is the manual rotation of the several elements selected positions according to the contour of the key to be employed. This easily done by removing the mechanism 5 from within the sleeve 4 and the disks shifted by finger operation and without the use of tools and while the lock assembly 5 is out of the sleeve 4.

Located within and closing the rear end of the sleeve 4 is a cupped closure plate 15 having a circumferential side wall 16 provided with openings 16a (FIG. 5) through which pins 17, urged by a spring 18, extend to enter into openings in the wall of the sleeve 4. These pins 17 serve to couple the plate 15 to the sleeve 4 and the plate 15 acts to close the rear end of the sleeve 4 behind the locking mechanism 5. A centrally located spindle is formed on and extends rearwardly from the plate 15, said spindle carrying a cross pin 20 which enables the spindle to be suitably coupled to or uncoupled from a cup-shaped member 23 that can connect to bolt-actuating or other mechanism for the door and which mechanism is adapted to be actuated by the rotative movement of the cup 23. When the sleeve 4 and its associated parts are advanced forwardly by the action of the compression spring 8 and to the position shown in FIG. 2, the pin 20 will enter into slots 21 provided within a tubular boss or portion 22 of the cup 23 located in and rotatably mounted within the casing 1 and extending around the spindle 19. The axial passage 24 through the tubular part 22 thus receives the spindle 19 and the tubular part 22 of the cup 23 may be connected, as by a cross pin 45, to any lock or bolt-operating mechanism that can then be moved to open or locked condition by the rotative movement of the part 22.

The cup 23 is formed with an annular outer rim 26 received in a groove 27 in the wall of the casing 1 adjacent to the rear end thereof and a split retaining ring 29 is disposed in said groove to maintain the cup 23 in position as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

The interior of the casing 1, adjacent to the rear end thereof, is notched or is formed with a plurality of vertical grooves 31 which at times receives the balls shown at 28. These balls 28 constitute a locking means which, when in the position shown in FIG. enter into grooves 31 provided in the interior of the casing I. The balls 28 assume the positions shown only when the sleeve 4 is fully retracted into the casing as in FIG. 1, the balls being urged into this locking position by the inner end 46 (FIG. 2) of the sleeve 4 when the sleeve is retracted into the casing 1. In this position of the parts, the cup 23 will be held against rotation. As will be seen in FIG. 2, when the sleeve 4 is advanced slightly out of the casing, the balls 28 become free to move inwardly and out of the grooves 31 as in FIG. 2 so that while the sleeve 4 is as shown in FIG. 2, the cup 23 can then be rotated when the sleeve is turned.

From the foregoing, the operation of the lock will be apparent. In FIG. 1 the lock is shown in its locking position. That is to say, the bolt or latch 6 is extended and is thus caused to engage under the shoulder 7 of the casing 1, thus holding the sleeve 4 in a retracted position in opposition to the urge of the spring 8. While the sleeve 4 might at this time be rotated it will not rotate the cup 23 which is held against rotation by the balls 28 and cup 23 is not coupled to the spindle 19. The cross pin 20 extending through the spindle 19 is at this time disengaged from the slots 21 in the cup 23 and thus there is no coupling between the plate and the cup 23. As a result, even if the sleeve 4 should be rotated, it will turn freely without causing the rotation of the cup 23 nor causing operation of any mechanism that might be connected to the part 22 of the cup.

When it is desired to open the lock, a proper key inserted into the mechanism 5 can retract its latch 6 to an extent to permit the latch to be retracted sufficiently to clear the shoulder 7 and permit-the spring 8 to urge the sleeve 4 forwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2. When the sleeve 4 moves forwardly the balls 28 can leave the grooves 31 and the ends of the cross pin will enter into any two of the grooves 21 in the cup 23 and thus the spindle 19 will become coupled to the cup 23. When the sleeve 4 is thereafter rotatably moved, it will be apparent that the cup 23 will be rotated to thereby actuate any bolt or other mechanism that might be coupled to the cup 23. As long as the parts of the lock remain.

in the condition shown in FIG. 2, the lock will be open and the rotation of the sleeve 4 will at this time affect the bolt or lock of the door or other element that is coupled to the-cup 23.

The bringing of the lock to its locking condition is done by pushing the sleeve 4 inwardly as far as it will go and this will move the balls 28 to the position shown in FIG. 1. By turning the key then fitted in the lock mechanism 5 the bolt or latch 6 can be extended so that it enters under the shoulder 7. This will hold the sleeve 4 in its retracted position shown in FIG. 1. The retraction of the sleeve 4 moves of the cross pin 20 out of the grooves 21 as seen in FIG. 1 and so, as heretofore stated, the spindle 19 will be uncoupled from the cup 23 and as long as the sleeve 4 remains in the retracted position the sleeve 4 and its associated parts can be turned without afi'ecting any mechanism that might be attached to the part 22.

The locking mechanism 5 can be easily removed for any desired purpose by the removal of the split ring 29. Pins 17 can be pushed inwardly to free the plate 15. This will permit access to or removal of the mechanism 5 for adjustment or setting.

In FIG. 4 is shown a form of key that might be used for this look. The shank 40 of the key may be notched or serrated in the conventional manner for the required combination. The head or plate portion 41 of the key is provided with spaced lugs 42 and 43, such lugs being receivable in recesses 44 provided in the. head portion 11 of the sleeve. This enables the key to be used an an operating handle for rotating the sleeve 4 when the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 2.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock comprising, an outer casing, a sleeve slidably mounted within the casing, a spring surrounding the sleeve and tending to urge the sleeve to a position wherein it partially projects out of the casing, latch-operating means contained within the sleeve, a latch controlled by the latch-operating means, said latch projecting out of the sleeve, stop means for holding the sleeve within the casing when the latch is an extended position, the stop means being an annular shoulder on the interior of the casing, a rotative end closure on the casing, the end closure being a cup having a tubular extension, coupling means between the sleeve and said end closure, said coupling means consisting of a plate on the sleeve having projections which enter grooves in the cup when the sleeve is in an advanced position with respect to the casing, said coupling means being effective to couple the sleeve and the end closure together when the sleeve is extended out of the casing by'the spring.

2. A lock comprising, a casing, a sleeve slidably and rotatably mounted in the casing, a compression coil spring mounted around the sleeve and effective to urge the sleeve to a projecting position, latch-operating means contained within the sleeve, a latch controlled by the latch-operating means and projecting out of the sleeve, stop means for holding the sleeve within the casing when the latch is in an extended position, a secondary stop means consisting of an annular shoulder on the casing for engagement with the latch to position the sleeve in its extended position, the casing having a cup-shaped rotative end closure provided with a tubular extension for coupling it to a bolt-actuating means, coupling means between the sleeve and the rotative end closure consisting of a spindle extending from the sleeve, the tubular extension having grooves with which parts on the spindle engage, the coupling being efl'ected when said parts on the spindle enter the grooves in the tubular extension and which occurs when the sleeve is in a position wherein it projects partially out of the casing.

3. A lock comprising, a casing, a rotatable closure at one end of the casing, an inner housing within the casing and containing lock mechanism that includes a latch extending out of the housing, said latch when in one position acting to maintain the housing housed within the casing and when in another position acting to dispose the housing in a position wherein it partially projects from the casing, means carried by the housing for coupling the housing to the rotatable closure when the housing is in a partially projected position relatively to the easing, bolt-actuating means at the rear of the casing, means carried by the housing for coupling the same to said bolt-actuating means when the housing is in an advanced position, said coupling means being free of connection to the bolt-actuating means when the housing is retracted within the casing, locking means for locking the bolt-actuating means against rotation when the housing is in a retracted position within the casing, said locking means including movable balls engaging in recesses in the casing when the housing is in a retracted position, the housing being effective to move the balls into position to engage in the recesses when the housing is moved into retracted position.

4. A lock according to claim 1, including secondary stop means for limiting the extension of the sleeve out of the casing when the latch is retracted, the plate at the end of the sleeve having a spindle, and the projections on the plate being lateral extensions from the sleeve.

5. A lock comprising, a tubular outer casing, a sleeve mounted for axial as well as rotative movement within the easing, spring means for tending to urge the sleeve for a limited distance out of the casing, a lock mechanism contained in the sleeve and having a latch projecting through an opening in the wall of the sleeve, stop means on the casing for limiting the movement of the sleeve out of the casing by the engagement of the latch with such stop means, a spindle at the end of the sleeve, a cup surrounding an end of the sleeve and the spindle, a cross pin carried by the spindle, the cup having grooves with which the cross pin engages but only when the sleeve has been partially extended out of the casing by the urge of the spring means.

6. A lock according to claim 5, wherein the stop means comprises an annular shoulder on the interior of the casing, the spindle being provided on a plate fitting on one end of the sleeve, means for detachably attaching said plate to the sleeve, the cup having a tubular rearward extension, the spindle being movable within said extension, the cross-pin-receiving grooves being provided within the extension, and balls borne by the cup and adapted to be moved into locking engagement with the casing by the sleeve when the sleeve is moved into the casmg.

7. A lock comprising a casing, a rotatable closure at one end of the casing, an inner housing within the casing and containing lock mechanism that includes a latch extending out of the housing, said latch when in one position acting to maintain the housing housed within the casing and when in another position acting to dispose the housing in a position wherein it partially protects from the casing, means carried by the housing for coupling the housing to a rotatable closure plate on said housing when the housing is in a partially projected position relatively to the casing, and locking means for holding the rotatable closure plate against rotative movement, said locking means being urged into locking position by the housing when the housing is moved to housed position within the casing.

i I ii 41 i 

1. A lock comprising, an outer casing, a sleeve slidably mounted within the casing, a spring surrounding the sleeve and tending to urge the sleeve to a position wherein it partially projects out of the casing, latch-operating means contained within the sleeve, a latch controlled by the latch-operating means, said latch projecting out of the sleeve, stop means for holding the sleeve within the casing when the latch is an extended position, the stop means being an annular shoulder on the interior of the casing, a rotative end closure on the casing, the end closure being a cup having a tubular extension, coupling means between the sleeve and said end closure, said coupling means consisting of a plate on the sleeve having projections which enter grooves in the cup when the sleeve is in an advanced position with respect to the casing, said coupling means being effective to couple the sleeve and the end closure together when the sleeve is extended out of the casing by the spring.
 2. A lock comprising, a casing, a sleeve slidably and rotatably mounted in the casing, a compression coil spring mounted around the sleeve and effective to urge the sleeve to a projecting position, latch-operating means contained within the sleeve, a latch controlled by the latch-operating means and projecting out of the sleeve, stop means for holding the sleeve within the casing when the latch is in an extended position, a secondary stop means consisting of an annular shoulder on the casing for engagement with the latch to position the sleeve in its extended position, the casing having a cup-shaped rotative end closure provided with a tubular extension for coupling it to a bolt-actuating means, coupling means between the sleeve and the rotative end closure consisting of a spindle extending from the sleeve, the tubular extension having grooves with which parts on the spindle engage, the coupling being effected when said parts on the spindle enter the grooves in the tubular extension and which occurs when the sleeve is in a position wherein it projects partially out of the casing.
 3. A lock comprising, a casing, a rotatable closure at one end of the casing, an inner housing within the casing and containing lock mechanism that includes a latch extending out of the housing, said latch when in one position acting to maintain the housing housed within the casing and when in another position acting to dispose the housing in a position wherein it partially projects from the casing, means carried by the housing for coupling the housing to the rotatable closure when the housing is in a partially projected position relatively to the casing, bolt-actuating means at the rear of the casing, means carried by the housing for coupling the same to said bolt-actuating means when the housing is in an advanced position, said coupling means being free of connection to the bolt-actuating means when the housing is retracted within the casing, locking means for locking the bolt-actuating means against rotation when the housing is in a retracted position within the casing, said locking means including movable balls engaging in recesses in the casing when the housing is in a retracted position, the housing being effective to move the balls into position to engage in the recesses when the housing is moved into retracted position.
 4. A lock according to claim 1, including secondary stop means for limiting the extension of the sleeve out of the casing when the latch is retracted, the plate at the end of the sleeve having a spindle, and the projections on the plate being lateral extensions from the sleeve.
 5. A lock comprising, a tubular outer casing, a sleeve mounted for axial as well as rotative movement within the casing, spring means for tending to urge the sleeve for a limited distance out of the casing, a lock mechanism contained in the sleeve and having a latch projecting through an opening in the wall of the sleeve, stop means on the casing for limiting the movement of the sleeve out of the casing by the engagement of the latch with such stop means, a spindle at the end of the sleeve, a cup surrounding an end of the sleeve and the spindle, a cross pin carried by the spindle, the cup having grooves with which the cross pin engages but only when the sleeve has been partially extended out of the casing by the urge of the spring means.
 6. A lock according to claim 5, wherein the stop means comprises an annular shoulder on the interior of the casing, the spindle being provided on a plate fitting on one end of the sleeve, means for detachably attaching said plate to the sleeve, the cup having a tubular rearward extension, the spindle being movable within said extension, the cross-pin-receiving grooves being provided within the extension, and balls borne by the cup and adapted to be moved into locking engagement with the casing by the sleeve when the sleeve is moved into the casing.
 7. A lock comprising a casing, a rotatable closure at one end of the casing, an inner housing within the casing and containing lock mechanism that includes a latch extending out of the housing, said latch when in one position acting to maintain the housing housed within the casing and when in another position acting to dispose the housing in a position wherein it partially protects from the casing, means carried by the housing for coupling the housing to a rotatable closure plate on said housing when the housing is in a partially projected position relatively to the casing, and locking means for holding the rotatable closure plate against rotative movement, said locking means being urged into locking position by the housing when the housing is moved to housed position within the casing. 